Our November chapter meeting is Monday, November 12 at 7 p.m. in Pacific Lutheran University’s Ness Family Chapel. The chapel is located in the center of campus, on the top floor of the Karen Hille Phillips Performing Arts Center (formerly Eastvold Auditorium). Parking is free, and you may find a campus map here.
Paul Tegels and a small ensemble, including members of the Choir of the West, will join me in a demonstration and discussion of my “Top 10” list of favorite psalm settings. These are drawn from my years of experience as Organist & Choirmaster at Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, and as a chorister at St. James Cathedral. Styles include plainsong, Anglican chant, and through-composed settings. This would be a great time to invite your choir director/choir members to share in a primarily choral event.
Looking ahead, a “save the date”: the annual Christmas party is Monday, December 10th!
Vashon Island lies at the end of a short ferry ride from both Tacoma and Seattle. It has been the home to a number of artists, musicians, and writers–and is also the home of three organs visited by the Tacoma Chapter of the AGO on Saturday, October 13.
Holy Spirit Episcopal Church
Felgemaker Organ at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, Vashon Island
Carl Kishline and Tim Drewes served as hosts for this program, which began at the Holy Spirit Episcopal Church. Tim Drewes gave a brief history of the organ, which was built by A.B. Felgemaker for Westwood Baptist Church of Cincinnati, as Opus 629 (or thereabouts) in 1896. Exactly 85 years after its dedication, it was removed and sold through the Organ Clearing House. The organ was installed at Holy Spirit by Randy McCarty, a harpsichordist at Pacific Lutheran University who was responsible for the acquisition of 8 to 10 additional organs transplanted to the Pacific Northwest through Organ Clearing House at about the same time. The organ is in much the same condition as when it was installed, the biggest change being a transposition of the Great 4-foot flute to a 2-foot flute by Tim Drewes.
Tim Drewes sits on the bench of the Felgemaker organ at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church on Vashon Island
Following the introduction, Tim demonstrated various sounds of the organ, including strings, flutes, and the principal chorus, based on an 8-foot open diapason. The Swell division has a 16-foot flute, which is a strong stop for accompanying hymns.. Tim played Bach’s F Major Prelude and Fugue from the Eight Little Preludes and Fugues, leading to some open bench time.
Vashon Presbyterian Church
Estey Organ at Vashon Presbyterian Church
The Estey organ at Vashon Presbyterian Church is most likely opus 23, made in 1902 for a merchant in Philadelphia. Its subsequent history is somewhat vague, but it most likely made its way to a Portland funeral home, followed by at least one additional funeral home. Vashon Presbyterian acquired the organ from a funeral home in Walla Walla in 1999. The organ features three stops on each keyboard and a beautiful oak case in pristine condition. Tim Drewes pointed out that the case might not be in such good shape had the organ been in a church surrounded by kids for the many years it sat in funeral homes.
At one time, the organ had a player mechanism which was removed and has been lost. The church still has some of the player rolls.
Stop Keys of the Estey Organ at Vashon Presbyterian Church
The organ also has an unusual stop arrangement whereby there is a small “keyboard” sitting above the other two, each key labeled with the name of a stop. The stop is engaged by pressing the white note, then disengaged by pressing the black note above it.
Vashon Lutheran Church
Interior of Vashon Lutheran Church
Following the Presbyterian Church, the last featured church was Vashon Lutheran, which features a three-rank Moller Artiste. The stop list shows quite a few stops, but all are based on the three ranks. There are no couplers, but most of the stops show up in some way on both keyboards and the pedal, with different names, and different pitches.
Moller Artiste organ at Vashon Lutheran Church
Much of the history of this Moller Artiste is unknown, but Vashon Lutheran acquired it from Anacortes Lutheran in 1969. Members of the church traveled to Anacortes with a truck and brought the organ back on the ferry.
Carl Kishline prepared a handout for this meeting, reproduced below. Tim Drewes also provided a copy of the dedication program from the Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, also reproduced below. Each of these documents contains multiple pages. To page through the document, select it and use the controls at the bottom.
Thanks to Carl Kishline for organizing this program, and to Tim Drewes for his expertise in the organs.
Keyboard of Felgemaker Organ at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, Vashon Island
Name Plate from the Estey Organ at Vashon Presbyterian Church
Tim Drewes plays the Estey organ at Vashon Presbyterian Church, with page turns by Carl Kishline
If you have ever wondered what is on the hunk of rock and trees in Puget Sound between Tacoma and Seattle, here is your chance to find out.
Vashon Island is home to three charming, relocated organs. On Saturday, October 13, 2018, Tacoma AGO is doing an organ crawl to hear and see these instruments. Since Vashon is only accessible by ferry, we have planned the schedule around those times. From either Pt. Defiance (Tacoma) or Fauntleroy (Seattle), the ferry system advises arriving 20 minutes before the scheduled sailing.
From Tacoma, plan on the 9:15 a.m. sailing from Pt. Defiance. If you haven’t been there recently, this is your chance to see the new roundabout that really helps traffic. For the 9:15 sailing, you should arrive by 8:55 to get tickets and wait for boarding. After arriving at Tahlequah, head north and continue north on Vashon Highway, 10.3 miles from the ferry dock, going through Burton (watch the speed limit and the 4 way stop) and Vashon town.
From Seattle, plan on the 9:15 a.m. sailing from Fauntleroy. Be aware that it is congested around the ferry dock, and the line often extends onto the street. For the 9:15 sailing, you should arrive by 8:55 to get tickets and wait for boarding. After arriving at Vashon, head south on Vashon Highway. It is 3.4 miles from the ferry dock.
The first stop will be at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, 15420 Vashon Hwy SW. It is on the east side of the road with parking on the south side of the building. There is a sign noting the labyrinth.
The program will start at 10:00, which will allow sufficient time for the ferry crossing, unloading, and driving to the church. We will have complete programs, driving directions, and background on the island at the church.
September’s celebration of Couperin was a lovely start to the program year. October’s meeting is in the exotic locale of Vashon Island, where there are three “organ transplants” of interest—an 1896 Felgemaker, a c. 1900 Estey, and a Moller Artiste. If you are interested in going on October 13, please read member Carl Kishline’s announcement for details. Carpooling is encouraged, and remember to bring some music!
The November meeting will be on Monday, November 12, at the Ness Family Chapel at Pacific Lutheran University (top floor of the Karen Hille Phillips Performing Arts Center, formerly Eastvold). I will be sharing psalm settings, organized by the liturgical year and led by a small choir. This would be a great time to invite your choir director/choir members to share in a primarily choral event.
On Sunday, October 21 in Lagerquist Hall at PLU, we mark the 20th anniversary of the Gottfried and Mary Fuchs Organ, Opus 18, built by Paul Fritts and Co.
We start that weekend on Saturday with an ‘organ invitational’, geared towards high school juniors and seniors. Besides a chance to play the Fritts organ and get feedback from the PLU organ faculty (Drs. Tegels and Wohlers), there will be organ crawls to several instruments in the area.
On Sunday participants can visit a church of their choice in the morning. In the afternoon participants will attend the 20th anniversary concert of the organ, featuring PLU University Organist Paul Tegels, assisted by PLU faculty Svend Rønning on violin and Jennifer Rhyne on flute, as well as the PLU Choral Union under the direction of Richard Nance.
While this probably won’t be necessary for participants from the Tacoma area, overnight accommodation can be arranged in residence halls with current PLU students. Meals will be provided in the PLU University Center.
Participation in this event is free, but registration by October 6 is required.
For more information, including a more detailed schedule, please visit the PLU organ website.
A poster describing the event is attached below this article.
